~ Chapter 78 ~
The Abomasnow-man
"In our youth, there were stories about an Abominable Snowman that used to live in the mountains of Northern Sinnoh. It would attack and eat travellers, killing all but one survivor. Some called hoax, others froze to death trying to prove otherwise. No one was certain what the creature was—was it a Pokémon? A monster? A undiscovered Pokémon? Or a crochety old hermit living in the ice not wanting to be disturbed? I'll save you the speculation; it was an angry old Abomasnow. Did I kill the surprise? Maybe. But the title of this chapter did that already. But that doesn't mean it's not still a good story."
Jeremy had been in pursuit of a Weavile all morning.
Ever since Iron Island, Jeremy had been looking for a sixth Pokémon to make a part of his permanent team.
Lucario had been a valuable team, ally, and friend, but he wasn't a Pokémon Jeremy wanted to use in a battle if he ever had to challenge the league—or Sam.
This Weavile had caught Jeremy's eyes a few days ago, back in the forest when it was battling another Weavile. This Pokémon seemed like the alpha among a group of local Weavile. It was larger than most, and definitely stronger. Weavile were solitary Pokémon, but there was a pecking order for resources and territory.
As the group moved closer to Lake Acuity, Jeremy kept tabs on that Weavile.
But now as they stood on the side of a mountain, one of the further mountains of the Mt. Coronet chain, the winds began to howl, and snow obstructed sight of the path ahead.
This mountain was known as Ghost Mountain.
Local legend stated that a massive giant, some kind of ice creature, or a spirit, that tried to kill anyone who trespassed on the mountain, haunted it.
So of course, the group scaled it looking for a Weavile on their way to Lake Acuity.
Lucario had reassured everyone that there were no spirits on this mountain, just Pokémon that lived there, and a lot of plantlife and snow.
No one was convinced.
But the closer they got to the top of the mountain, the harder it was to see. The winds blew harder, at record speeds; the snow was blinding and made it impossible to see far in front of oneself, and the temperature was blisteringly cold.
Things were starting to get dangerous.
Yet, they pressed on for the sake of Jeremy and his Weavile.
"Are we still on track to Lake Acuity?" asked Jeremy.
"We're going in the general direction," reassured Sam as he checked the map and compass, "You thinking of calling it?"
"I don't want to, but things are getting nasty," replied Jeremy.
"Whatever you choose, we support you," added Niya.
Jeremy looked over at his friends. Everyone but Sam seemed cold, but they looked ready to press forward.
Jeremy was going to open his mouth, suggest they continue on a little while longer…then a roar erupted across the mountainside.
The ground shook, the wind howled harder, rocks and ice started to tumble down the side of the mountain.
And it came right down for the group.
"Pikachu! Thunderbolt!" cried Jeremy.
"I told you this mountain was haunted!" cried Alyssandra.
"There are no spirits on this mountain!" called Lucario, "I've searched the entire mountain with my sight and have seen no spirits, no ghosts, nothing! Just the Pokémon that live here?"
"And how do you expect to explain the wailing?" demanded Alyssandra.
"Guys, a little help here!" called Jeremy.
Pikachu was slamming lightning into the massive balls of snow and rocks that were coming down the mountain. It shattered many into smaller, harmless pieces, but it wasn't stopping the massive landslide coming for them.
"Lucario, Aura Sphere!" cried Sam.
The Pokémon leapt into the air and slammed its ball of aura into the ground beneath the coming landslide.
It exploded, as it hit the ground, creating a small crater in the side of the mountain. The crater was soon filled in by snow, slowing it down a bit, and Lucario continued his trick as Pikachu destroyed larger chunks of ice and snow all the way down the mountain.
When the ice and snow finally reached the group, it was low enough that Lucario was able to use and maintain his Aura Sphere to split the snow around the ground, and part the onslaught of ice and rock.
As the snow stopped moving and sliding, another roar erupted from the top of the mountain.
The ground started to shake again, the wind, snow and icy picked up again, removing the visibility the ground had temporarily gained when the avalanche happened.
"Then what the hell is that?" asked Sam, turning to Lucario.
Lucario shut his eyes and scanned the area again. "I cannot see, there's too much interference," replied the Pokémon, "But it's not supernatural."
"Weavile!" called Jeremy.
Sure enough, Jeremy spotted the Pokémon crouching nearby on a fall tree. It seems the Weavile had just barely escaped the avalanche itself, but when it saw Jeremy's Pikachu, it recognized a strong opponent and wanted to fight.
Another roar from the top of the mountain.
Sam wasn't waiting around like a sitting duck for the mountain to cave down on him, spirit or not, Sam was getting to the bottom of that roar.
"Jeremy, you catch that Pokémon, girls stay here, I'm going up the mountain," explained Sam, releasing his Rapidash.
Immediately the Pokémon began melting the snow around it, it's ashen flames licking its way up the Pokémon's body.
Before anyone could stop him, Sam had shot up the mountain, Lucario in tow.
But within moments, Alyssandra was mounted and charging up the mountain behind him.
"What are you doing?" asked Sam over the howling wind.
"Same stupid thing you're planning," she smirked.
Sam sighed. He wasn't arguing.
"She's perfect for you," laughed Lucario inside Sam's head.
Sam ignored him.
The three of them charged up the mountain, and the closer to the top they got, the lighter the blizzard became. They seemed to be getting closer to the centre of the storm.
Something about this made it seem…unnatural.
"What's wrong?" asked Lucario.
Sam shrugged. "It's not snowing up here," noted Sam, "Like, we're talking significantly less snow up here, and there are still trees up here. This place looks relatively untouched."
"Lived in," added Alyssandra, "Like someone didn't want to destroy their own place."
Sam noticed she was correct. It looked like…a habit.
"Lucario," said Sam, "You said when you looked for spirits, you saw nothing except—"
"Except Pokémon," finished Lucario, cathing on to what Sam was saying.
"Lucario was right," added Alyssandra, "It was only Pokémon he saw, because Pokémon were causing the storms."
"A single Pokémon, by the looks of it," noticing the small, narrow space atop this mountain.
Looking at the area around, the pine trees were stripped of snow on their bottom halves, but snow covered on the top.
The concentration of trees was thick as well, almost as if to conceal the Pokémon that lived up here.
"Abomasnow," noted Sam, "There's an Abomasnow here. It's claimed this mountain as it's territory."
"How do you know for sure?" asked Alyssandra.
"It's gone and purposely dressed down the trees here to match its body colouration," explained Sam, "And the density of the trees…it's using the trees and their colouration to move around up here and go unnoticed. Anyone that sneaks up here…it'll sneak between the trees and—"
Sam was cut off by a rustling through the trees.
The sound of crunching snow.
A rushing charge, a roar and snort.
Abomasnow was coming.
"Everyone move!" cried Sam, moving Grey Flame out of the way.
Not a moment too soon either, as Abomasnow came crashing through the trees, ripping up snow and dirt and roaring in the face of Sam and his friends.
Staying on the back of his Rapidash, Sam commanded Rapidash and Lucario against the Abomasnow.
Abomasnow was in a rage, but also at a major type disadvantage. Not counting Alyssandra and her Rapidash, Sam and Grey Flame and Lucario at his disposal.
Abomasnow was a Grass and Ice type Pokémon.
Lucario was Steel and Fighting, and had a double super effect against both of Abomasnow's types with both of his.
Grey Flame was a pure Fire type, and still had double super effect against the Abomasnow.
Sam had the advantage, but that didn't guarantee him victory. He would need to be careful, but he could make it work if he was smart.
"Grey Flame! Flamethrower!" cried Sam, "Lucario, hit it with a Metal Claw!"
Abomasnow roared and unleashed a Blizzard attack.
The windows howled and roared like their master, the bits of ice and snow blew across the area, freezing everyone to the bone, making things cold to the touch.
Grey Flame's Flamethrower burst through the ice and snow and took Abomasnow straight in the chest.
The Pokémon roared and the Blizzard ceased.
As the winds stopped, Lucario went in, slashing Abomasnow across the back.
The Pokémon roared again, and swung its glowing, hardened arm at Lucario.
Wood Hammer, a decent attack, known by a decent amount of Grass type Pokémon. It wasn't super effective against Lucario or Grey Flame, but it was still strong enough.
Abomasnow's arm slammed into Lucario, sending the Pokémon flying across the way into a tree.
Lucario snarled.
But Abomasnow's face showed that it had taken damage from that attack as well.
Sam could use that to his advantage.
Abomasnow didn't have much fight left in it. Between the Flamethrower, the Metal Claw and damaging itself using Wood Hammer, a few more strikes would do it.
Time to buckle down.
"Grey Flame, Fire Blast! Burn it to ash!" cried Sam, "Lucario, Force Palm!"
Grey Flame unleashed a massive blast of flame that didn't let up.
Trees burned, snow melted, and Abomasnow took the brunt of it, but refused to go down.
It prepared an Ice Beam, aiming right at Grey Flame, but quickly turned its attention towards Lucario.
The Ice Beam shot right at Lucario like an arrow.
Sam called for Lucario to change its attack, and meet Ice Beam with an Aura Sphere.
Lucario quickly swapped attacks in midair, and blasted away the Ice Beam with a massive explosion.
Lucario soon burst from the smoke, slamming its Force Palm right into Abomasnow with a snarl.
Abomasnow growled, fighting against its damage and exhaustion…then collapse into the ground, slamming into the now exposed dirt and ash that covered the ground.
Lucario let out another snarl, before closing its eyes, and returning to his calmed state.
Sam smiled, thanking his Pokémon, and tossed an Ultra Ball at Abomasnow.
Alyssandra came out with her Rapidash, Chestnut, from behind a tree, her hair looked to be a big singed and covered in bits of raining ash and snow.
"That was a little…" she started.
"Over kill?" asked Sam, guessing her next few words.
Alyssandra nodded. "A bit," she smiled, "But you're strong, and I'm proud of you."
He face was pink for some reason, Sam couldn't understand why.
"Thanks," he smiled, his face going a similar shade to hers, "I…thanks. I appreciate the compliment."
Alyssandra smiled and looked over at the Ultra Ball as it stopped rattling and shaking.
Sam had caught himself an Abomasnow.
"Better get your Pokémon," said Alyssandra, "We should head back down and check on Jeremy. Let's hope no one else got hurt in this fight, who knows what other kinds of damage Abomasnow did while we were up here."
Sam nodded. He looked down at his new Pokémon in its Ultra Ball.
He whispered his apologies to the Pokémon for hitting it so hard, but it should be taken as a compliment, for how strong Abomasnow was.
Sam promised he would make sure no harm came to Abomasnow further, and that the Pokémon was welcome to stick around longer, to help Sam and his friends, and grow friendlier with his new trainer.
Alyssandra smiled as she saw Sam talking to his Pokémon. At the beginning of their journey, catching Pokémon seemed so easy. Befriend them, weaken then catch them.
It was easy, it was longer…it was harder.
Now…it was simply a matter of striking harder, faster, stronger. Pokémon at this level were meaner, tougher—not meaner in the sense that they were meaner, but they were stronger and used this power to their advantage to remain wild. Wild Pokémon of this level were truly that, wild.
The methods got more extreme, as did the battles, but the friendships forged were no less meaningful.
Jeremy's Pikachu and Weavile were bickering over dinner, getting better acquainted with one another. Weavile was still a little wild, while Pikachu had been tamed and domesticated for a lot longer.
The two caused quite a mess, and quite a laugh as they played and bickered.
Abomasnow munched happily on Pokémon food. It had easily adjusted to being Sam's Pokémon—food was a good motivator.
"So that's the Ice Monster of Ghost Mountain?" asked Niya, "Huh…I guess all the sceptics were right. It's just a Pokémon."
"I guess so," shrugged Sam, "A bit of a shame I guess. But Lucario said there were no such thing as spirits so."
Lucario raised its brow. "I never said that. I said that there were no spirits on Ghost Mountain. There are definitely spirits and ghosts out there in this world."
Everyone's face went blank.
"We're taking him back to Eterna Forest," demanded Alyssandra, "He's getting to the bottom of it."
"Eterna Forest?" wondered Lucario.
"You'll see, one day, it seems," laughed Sam, "We're dragging you back there apparently."
